(ORANGE BEACH, Ala.) Baldwin County students are enjoying a longer summer break and a shorter school term.
Legislators in Alabama passed the law in hopes of extending the state's summer tourism season and allow for more local and state revenue. Locally, tourism officials say it may be too early to see or quantify the impact of the extra vacation time. In June local lodging numbers were up 20% over last year's figures. Additional numbers and the impact on state tax revenue may not be available until October. "We expect to see the full impact of the legislation next summer. Most people had their plans in place for travel this year and next year we expect to see a full impact," said Kim Chapman with the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"It's a wonderful thing what the legislators did. I wish they would extend it a little further like it used to be when I was a kid. We would like to see it extended to Labor Day," said Frank Hughes, owner of Adventure Island in Orange Beach.
